Both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin took the ice on Monday at practice and Tuesday at morning skate.
“I think it’s a good sign," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Monday about Zuccarello practicing. "We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that. But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Hynes said that the two will be questionable to play in Game 5 on Monday and now they are game-time decisions.
He also said they were in Game 3 and both missed. Hynes also said Zuccarello would be a game-time decision in Game 4 and he did not play either.
Zuccarello, 38, had three assists in Game 1 and plays a huge factor on the Wild's top line with Ryan Hartman and Kirill Kaprizov.
He has two goals and eight points in seven career playoff games against the Stars. In 103 career playoff games, Zuccarello has 19 goals, 42 assists and 61 points in 103 career playoff games.
Trenin, 29, has 1,359 career hits in 457 NHL games. In 28 career playoff games, Trenin has 115 hits, including 50 hits in eight career playoff games with Minnesota.
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Macklin Celebrini's spectacular sophomore season has him in the running with established veterans for what NHL players consider the top regular season award.
The San Jose Sharks' young star is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player. It's voted on fellow members of the NHL Players' Association. Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the other finalists.
The winner will be announced later.
The NHLPA award finalists are the first to be announced. The NHL will roll out the finalists for other awards over the next few weeks.
Here's what to know about the Ted Lindsay Award finalists and the announcement schedule for the other awards:
Ted Lindsay Award finalists
Players listed in alphabetical order Voting is by fellow players
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks: The 19-year-old finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) and broke the Sharks' franchise single-season scoring record held by Hall of Famer Joe Thornton. He won a silver medal with Canada at the Winter Olympics. He's a first-time finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Kucherov finished second in the league with 130 points. He scored his 1,000th career point during the season. He is a two-time winner of the Ted Lindsay Award.
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: McDavid won the NHL's scoring title for the sixth time with 138 points and led the league with 90 assists. He won a silver medal with Canada and was named MVP of the Olympic men's hockey tournament. He is a four-time Ted Lindsay Award winner.
NHL awards finalists announcement schedule
Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender)
Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship)
Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach)
Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP)
Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)
With three NBA postseason series continuing tonight, we can look across the board to find some quality player props.
I’m eyeing Payton Pritchard and Karl-Anthony Towns to build on their outstanding Game 4 performances, and I’m also backing Stephon Castle to keep shooting from deep tonight.
Keep reading to see why I like these player props, and get my free NBA picks for Tuesday, April 28.
Payton Pritchard is coming off by far his best performance of this series, scoring 32 points in the Boston Celtics’ 128-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. But that outburst didn’t come completely out of nowhere.
Pritchard averaged 17.0 ppg this season, by far the highest total of his career. That wasn’t all based on his 3-point shooting, either. He saw his volume and percentage (37.7%) from beyond the arc go down compared to last season, while showing far more versatility in his scoring all over the court.
While Pritchard started this series slow, he scored 15 points in Game 3 before exploding in Game 4. Heading into Game 5, he’s averaging 15.8 ppg for the series, and his season-long numbers suggest he should get to at least that range for the rest of the playoffs. I love the Over here at just 13.5 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns never seemed quite comfortable in the New York Knicks offense this year, even publicly saying so earlier in the season.
But head coach Mike Brown tried something different in Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks, running the offense through Towns. The result: a triple-double for Towns, and a 16-point win for the Knicks on Saturday.
While that was a particularly outstanding performance for Towns, he’s been excellent throughout the series. Game 4 marked the third occasion in which he put up at least 37 PRA in this series, and his 36.8 PRA average is dragged down only by a poor performance in Game 2.
But with a new approach working wonders for the Knicks offense, I can’t see Brown moving away from a KAT-led offense tonight. I’m taking the Over on his PRA total.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #3: Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes made
+102 at bet365
Stephon Castle was an important support piece for the San Antonio Spurs all season, but he’s stepped up his efforts during the playoffs. In the first four games of their series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Castle is averaging 21.0 ppg, and is shooting an outstanding 42.9% from 3-point range.
In each of the last three games of the series, Castle has hit two or more shots from deep. Even Victor Wembanyama’s return to the lineup in Game 4 did little to reduce his volume, as he shot 6-for-14 and hit three shots from beyond the arc in the 114-93 win.
Castle might be relegated to the third option beyond Wemby and De’Aaron Fox for the rest of the playoffs, but the Spurs have been good at utilizing him to maintain some offensive balance. Based on his usage in this series so far, I like Castle to hit at least two threes tonight.
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The Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks now find themselves in effectively a best-of-three series, and at that point, one should always take a long look at the superstars.
Game 5 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes
+120 at bet365
The best-shooting center in NBA history has gone 7-for-14 from beyond the arc in this series, impressive even by his lofty standards. Then again, he went 5-for-10 from deep against the Atlanta Hawks in two games in the regular season.
Karl-Anthony Towns is getting enough looks in this series to always justify betting on him to hit multiple 3-pointers, particularly when it is foolishly priced at plus-money. It especially stands out that Towns took nine shots from long range in the two games at MSG, compared to just five down in Atlanta.
Expect Towns to put up at least four or five triples tonight, and at that volume, it is very much more likely than not that he hits multiple 3-pointers.
Game 5 Prop #2: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 rebounds
+120 at bet365
The Most Improved Player winner has played well in this series, but nowhere near as well as he did in the regular season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has not scored more than 17 points in a game, and he's shooting a painful 34.6% from the field.
Alexander-Walker is at least hitting his 3-pointers, going 13-for-30 (43.3%) from deep through these four games.
More than that, he's playing a well-rounded game. He may have scored only nine points in Game 2, but he added three blocks, five rebounds, and six assists.
Alexander-Walker has cleared this rebounding prop only twice in four games, but he has snagged at least three boards in each of the last three games, averaging four per game in those three games.
That may all sound like modest work on the glass, but think about those numbers when enjoying a +120 payout.
Game 5 Prop #3: Jalen Brunson Under 2.5 threes
-135 at bet365
The worry is not that Jalen Brunson is shooting poorly from deep. He isn’t. The New York Knicks star has hit 10 of 26 in this series, good for 38.5%.
The worry is that in two games, if not arguably three, he has not taken a bounty of 3-pointers. Remove Brunson’s 4-for-10 effort in Game 2 and his series rate falls to 6-for-16. That 37.5% would still be plenty quality, but taking only 5.3 long-range looks per game is not enough to justify a prop this high.
Brunson is not finding the space from deep that he prefers. Give some credit to Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Without that space, Brunson should be doubted from beyond the arc.
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Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The 2026 postseason is over, at least for the Phoenix Suns. After their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, they became the first team eliminated and the only team without a postseason win. And honestly, it did not come as a surprise.
Oklahoma City is a machine. We saw it up close. Once the playoffs begin, they lock in with a level of focus that feels different. Possession after possession, they send wave after wave of defenders. Each one capable, each one connected. In a league shaped by cap constraints and competing priorities, that kind of depth stands out. The Thunder are built different.
Just ask Devin Booker.
“You got to give them credit,” Booker said after Game 4. “There’s three All-Defensive guys over there that they keep in rotation, and it seems like the game plan is don’t let me get any touches at any time. So, still trying to be aggressive and find spots, but you know, if somebody’s locked onto me and it’s opening up another opportunity for a teammate, the quicker we can exploit that and get that advantage, I think they can sag off a little bit and open up more opportunities for me.”
I think it’s safe to say that from a production standpoint, this easily was Devin Booker‘s worst postseason series. Sure, he was also swept the last time he was in the postseason in the first round, but statistically, he put up a fight. He averaged 27.5 points against the Wimberwolves two seasons ago. In this series? Those statistics are not so friendly.
The tale of the tape? Booker averaged 21.3 points, doing so with 46/25/79 splits. He had 4.8 assists and 4.0 turnovers over the course of the series.
There is context here. He was facing an elite defense, the best in the league, and one that belongs in the conversation with the best we have seen in the modern era. The spacing today stretches everything, and Oklahoma City still closes it off. They move as one, shrink the floor, and contest everywhere, not only at the rim, but across all zones. I can safely say I am thankful we don’t have to play against them. Seeing them 9 times this season was enough.
Devin Booker felt it. The doubles came early and often, and the Thunder controlled the terms of engagement. They were comfortable letting Jalen Green or Dillon Brooks carry the burden. That approach worked. Booker averaged 15.7 attempts, third on the team this postseason. Dillon Brooks led the way at 22.0, with Jalen Green at 19.3.
But then there’s that other side of the coin, the one that allows you to be critical of Booker, even given the circumstances. Because, quite honestly? Superstar players rise to the occasion, and even if they’re playing potentially historic defenses, they have the ability to make an impact beyond 21.3 points a game. There was no variance game in this series for Booker. He didn’t score more than 24 points in a game. And that’s where the critical mind simply wonders what went wrong.
His Thunder series was… fine? He generated reasonably efficient offense. He also did little to create advantages his teammates could consistently capitalize on. Nobody expected him to win the series or even a game, but this was far from the overwhelming postseason force we saw a few years ago. This version of Booker isn’t an All-NBA player. He’s more like a low-end All-Star.
Booker was forced into more of a playmaking role, that part is fair. Against that defense, the results were not where you need them. His assist-to-turnover ratio sat at 1.2 to 1. That is not elite. Guards in that range this season include Gradey Dick, Jordan Hawkins, and Rayan Rupert. That is not the company you expect when the number next to your name is $53.1 million.
That is where the frustration comes from. You do not only want Devin Booker to be better in the postseason, you need him to be better. The team exceeded expectations, the season delivered more than most thought it would, and the one place it felt stagnant was at the very top. But even that statement has fluidity and context to it. Players around him had career years. What Booker is, how he operates, and the attention he draws created opportunity. Others stepped into that space and produced. So while it was a down year statistically, it was a positive year relative to leadership.
The question still lingers. Star or superstar? A superstar finds a way to bend even a defense like Oklahoma City. It is not easy. It is not always fair. It is still the expectation.
Still, I know there is frustration with the postseason performance. I see the fan base expressing its disdain for the lack of perceived aggression, the inability to be efficient, and the continual poor decision-making. In a year in which Booker was handed a pricey contract (that we must remember is a fluid number, as it is a percentage of the projected cap, not a hard number yet), the numbers weren’t there. The impact wasn’t as profound. The deliverables weren’t as clean.
So, how do you view this Booker postseason in the grand scheme? From my perspective, I brush it off. The criticism is fair, the results are what they are, but the context matters. OKC is Thanos. They are inevitable. It is not hard to imagine Devin Booker struggling against a defense like that. And guess what? Stars have rough series. Tragic Johnson, anyone? How about Larry Bird in ’83? It happens.
I would caution against being a prisoner of the moment. Step back and look at the full picture. Mark Williams did not play. Jordan Goodwin logged five minutes. Grayson Allen did not truly arrive until Game 4. This was an eighth seed facing the defending champions without a full deck. That shapes everything. What did you expect? 30 a night? It was always going to be difficult. Oklahoma City loaded up on Booker, forced the ball out of his hands, lived with the turnovers, and trusted the math. That is how it played out.
This is not a free pass. There are real conversations ahead about who Booker is for this team moving forward and what that means at his salary number. Those discussions belong in the offseason. They deserve a full lens, not a single series. But it is now the offseason.
Now the work begins. The evaluation, the decisions, the paths forward. And we will dig into all of it, with a holistic view of what comes next, right here at Bright Side of the Sun.
Disgraced ex-NBA star Damon Jones dressed like he was going to a funeral in Brooklyn court Tuesday as he pleaded guilty to participating in two alleged mob-linked gambling schemes.
Jones, 49, wore all black as he glumly fessed up to his part in the illicit scheme, admitting to the judge that he used “insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player’’ to feed to bettors.
Former NBA star Damon Jones pleaded guilty to participating in an allegedly mob-linked gambling scheme that saw insiders leaking game information to gamblers. APDamon Jones (center) leaves Brooklyn Federal Court after agreeing to two different plea deals involving illegal gambling taking place inside the NBA. Gregory P. Mango
Some of the information he leaked was about whether Los Angeles Lakers stars such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis were injured or would be playing during certain games, prosecutors said. Jones was unofficially helping to coach the team at the time.
Gamblers would then take those tips and use them to inform their bets.
Damon Jones #19 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is pictured during Game Four of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 14, 2007, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in a statement he read in court while making his plea.
“I knowingly and intentionally agreed with others to join in this conspiracy to defraud sports betting platforms based on inside information I obtained as a result of my relationships from my playing career in the NBA.”
Follow The Post’s latest on the gambling scandal rocking the NBA:
The former baller looked despondent as he left the courthouse, only saying, “God be the glory,” when asked for comment by reporters.
Jones played for 10 NBA teams from 1999 to 2009, raking in more than $20 million, and was an unofficial coach for the Lakers from 2022 to 2023.
Head Coach Damon Jones of the Cleveland Cavaliers coaches is seen during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 13, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
He confessed to participating in the gambling scheme from 2022 to 2024.
Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud — charges that could land him up to 27 months behind bars when sentenced in September.
He also confessed to his participation in a related poker scheme, where he would use his NBA fame to lure victims into high-stakes poker games – which were rigged with elaborate cheating devices to ensure windfalls for the conspirators.
About $7 million was netted from victims in the poker scheme, which used tools such tampered card shufflers, x-ray poker tables and an elaborate network of handlers communicating with insiders in the game.
Jones explained to the court that he was known as a celebrity “face card” among his conspirators.
“As a face card, my presence as a former NBA player would attract bettors,” he said. “I knew the games were being rigged and players were being cheated.”
He is expected to be sentenced to between 63 and 78 months for the poker con – upwards of 6.5 years.
It remains unclear if his sentences would run concurrently or consecutively.
More than 30 people were arrested in the schemes in October, with other former NBA players and alleged mobsters among those charged.
Former Miami Heat player Terry Rozier was charged, along with Basketball Hall of Famer and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billips.
Jones is the first person to plead guilty in the sensational case – and he initially pleaded not guilty after his arrest.
Though only one first-round series is complete and none of top championship contenders are eliminated, the 2026 NBA playoffs have already been jarred by unexpected drama.
Through all this during the opening 10 days of the NBA playoffs, some of the league's biggest stars and a few unexpected names have emerged to produce compelling and clutch performances. Here's a look at the 10 best players in the 2026 NBA playoffs through games played on Monday, April 27:
McCollum's timely shot-making down the stretch in Games 2 and 3 gave the Hawks a series lead over the Knicks before New York evened the matchup with a dominant Game 4 win. The 34-year-old is averaging better than 24 points per game on 51% shooting, harkening back to the numbers he put up during the Trail Blazers' 2019 run to the Western Conference Finals.
Banchero's outside shooting remains inconsistent and a potential issue in these playoffs, but he and Desmond Bane have the Orlando Magic on the cusp of knocking off the Eastern Conference's top seed. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is getting to the free throw line more times per game than Banchero so far this postseason.
This hasn't been Jokic's best postseason series by any stretch, with his defensive flaws magnified because the Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert-led defense has been effective at slowing him down at times. But Jokic is still averaging almost a triple-double in five games against Minnesota (25.4 points, 14 rebounds, 9.4 assists) after his second triple-double of the series in Game 5.
Towns has been a stabilizing force against the Atlanta Hawks and the Knicks used him to facilitate the offense to even their first-round series in Game 4. Towns registered his first-career playoff triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) after a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double in Game 3.
Minnesota's trade-deadline acquisition of Dosunmu looks like a steal after back-to-back huge performances, including a 43-point explosion in Game 4, moved the Timberwolves one win from ousting the Denver Nuggets despite injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Dosunmu is averaging 22.8 points and four assists on 64% shooting coming off the bench.
Barnes has been the best player through four games of the Raptors' tightly-contested first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with his two-way versatility allowing Toronto to go small featuring Collin Murray-Boyles. Barnes is averaging 25.8 points and 7.3 assists while also connecting on 7 of his 15 3-point attempts through four games.
James turned back the clock to lead the Lakers to three wins to start their first-round series against the Rockets, averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists while sparking the likes of Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined by injury.
Tatum's return from injury was the NBA's most remarkable late-season storyline and he appears to be rounding into form during this first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum's points (24.8) and and shooting percentage are up through four games and he's among the league's leaders in assists (8.5) this postseason while leading the Celtics' offense.
Wemby might be even higher on this list if not for missing most of Game 2 and Game 3 of the Spurs' first-round series while in the NBA's concussion protocol. But he's otherwise been dominant in the two full playoff games he's played in against the Portland Trail Blazers, with 35 points in his postseason debut in Game 1 and 27 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks and 4 steals in his return from injury in Game 4.
The defending NBA champions didn't really flinch when Jalen Williams went down with an injury because Gilgeous-Alexander wouldn't allow it. The reigning NBA MVP (and the favorite to be the back-to-back winner this year) shot 55.1% from the field and averaged 33.8 points and 8 assists per game during the Thunder's sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
LOS ANGELES — Kyle Tucker got his first walk-off hit since signing a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right fielder’s game-ending single scored the tying and winning runs in a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins after he was hitless in his first four at-bats, including a strikeout. It was his first walk-off hit since May 15, 2023, with Houston.
“It was great. He needed it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been grinding and trying to find some success and some good fortune. Big spot right there, walk-off at home, so that was great.”
Last week, Tucker was dropped to the cleanup spot from the No. 2 hole in an effort to get the slugger going.
“I’ve had some good contact with not a whole lot to show,” he said. “It’s tough sometimes just because you don’t see the results right away, but you’ve got to stick to it and just try to make as much quality contact as you can.”
The change in the order will be the plan going forward.
“Moving him down allowed the game to come to him a little bit slower and I think that has been a benefit,” Roberts said.
Tucker signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers in January. He had yet to break out at the plate despite batting behind leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani until swapping places with Freddie Freeman in the order.
Joining a star-laden clubhouse as a big-time free agent can unsettle some players.
“The transition certainly is unpredictable,” Roberts said. “He’s very consistent in how he approaches each day. He is traditionally a slow starter as I understand. He’s a pro and he wants to be out there and still plays good defense. I do think that a moment like this, even for a player that’s been around a long time, can kind of inspire more confidence in him.”
Tucker prefers to let his performance speak for itself. Playing alongside Ohtani, Freeman and Mookie Betts, he no longer has to carry a team or be its face the way he did with the Chicago Cubs.
Roberts said he’s given up trying to read Tucker’s poker face.
“That’s just who he is. It’s not personal to anybody,” the manager said. “Just doesn’t give anyone a whole lot.”
Instead of shaking Tucker’s hand after his game-winning hit, Roberts pushed him in the chest, which provoked a smile.
Tucker barely reacted as Ohtani and Dalton Rushing scored the tying and winning runs.
“I hit it and started going to first and it wasn’t quite loud yet until we actually ended up winning the game,” Tucker said, “so it was like, did I get the score wrong? But afterwards I saw everyone running out and it got loud, so I was like, ‘Sweet, this is sick.’”
That qualified as a big reaction from Tucker.
“Guys are working on him. I think he’ll loosen up,” Roberts said. “I think even Shohei when he first got here was a little bit more reserved compared to where he is now.”
Tucker said the players and coaching staff have made him feel at home.
“Anytime I can contribute to the win I’m happy,” he said. “It’s been nice being over here.”
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs look to close out their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight when they take the court at the Frost Bank Center in Texas. The Spurs hold a commanding 3-1 series lead following the return of Wembanyama (concussion) and nothing short of a dominant second half in Game 4. As a result, the Spurs look primed to advance to Round 2.
After sitting out Game 3, Wembanyama returned over the weekend to dominate Game 4 with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks as the Spurs recovered from a 17-point halftime deficit outscoring the Blazers 73-35 in the second half to win 114-93. De’Aaron Fox added 28 points including 4-8 from deep to support the cause and put the Blazers on the brink of elimination.
Facing an end to their season after losing both playoff games in Portland last week, the Trail Blazers will try and take solace in the fact they blew substantial leads in both of those losses. Portland continues to rely heavily on the tandem of Deni Avdija (26 points in Game 4) and Jerami Grant (17 points in Game 4). However, the Blazers' inconsistent three-point shooting—ranking 27th in percentage during the regular season despite high volume—has bogged down their offense. Yes, the Blazers are strong on the boards, but they need to score on a higher percentage of their shots to extend this series. Not easy against the NBA’s best defender in Wembanyama and the overall aggressive team defense of the Spurs.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 9:30PM EST
Site: Frost Bank Center
City: San Antonio, TX
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Game Odds: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Portland Trail Blazers (+440), San Antonio Spurs (-600)
Spread: Spurs -11.5
Total: 216.5 points
This game opened Spurs -11.5 with the Game Total set at 215.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers
PG Jrue Holiday
SG Scoot Henderson
C Donovan Clingan
SF Deni Avdija
PF Toumani Camara
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Devin Vassell
SG Stephon Castle
C Victor Wembanyama
PF Julian Champagnie
Injury Report: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard (Achilles) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers
The Spurs are 33-9 at home this season
The Blazers are 20-24 on the road this season
The Spurs are 48-37-2 ATS this season
Portland is 46-41 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 44 of the Blazers’ 87 games this season (44-43)
The OVER has cashed in 37 of the Spurs’ 87 games this season (37-50)
Stephon Castle is averaging 6.3 assists per game in this series
Donovan Clingan is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game in this series
Jrue Holiday was 8-15 from beyond the arc in Games 3 and 4
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Spurs and the Trail Blazers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on San Antonio -11.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 216.5
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Apr 27, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning goal against the Utah Mammoth during overtime in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
SALT LAKE CITY — Shea Theodore scored on a snap shot from the high slot with 51.5 seconds left in overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 after squandering a three-goal lead, tying their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
“We just didn’t quit,” Theodore said.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights appeared to have won the game earlier in OT when Pavel Dorofeyev tapped in a loose puck with 9:41 left, but the apparent score was waved off when it was determined Vegas was offside.
“It was good we never stopped,” Theodore said. “It sucks that one got called back, but it was good to get it done.”
Vegas’ Brett Howden scored his second goal of the game on a tip-in with 9:35 remaining in the third period, and that forced overtime after Utah had stormed back with four straight goals.
“I liked the way we responded in the third after they scored,” Howden said. “We stuck with it.”
The Golden Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead with two goals in the first and one early in the second by Dorofeyev, Howden and Cole Smith.
Utah countered with four straight scores, capped by Clayton Keller’s wrist shot off a deflection for a 4-3 lead at the 5:10 mark of the third period.
“I’m proud of the way our guys responded to adversity,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “It was a hard-fought game. We know how good they can be and I think we responded well in the second half of the game.”
Utah’s Karel Vejmelka stopped 31 shots. Carter Hart made 29 saves for Vegas.
Facing a three-goal deficit, Utah’s Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole scored 29 seconds apart in the second period to set the Mammoth’s comeback in motion. Schmaltz got Utah on the board at the 8:04 mark, and Cole followed with a 50-foot slap shot at 8:33 of the second.
Michael Carcone tied it on another slap shot at 1:44 of the third.
Dorofeyev flicked home a wrist shot to put the Golden Knights in front just 72 seconds into the first. Howden then threaded another wrist shot past Vejmelka’s skate for a short-handed goal with 1:22 left in the period.
Smith’s tip-in at 3:27 of the second gave the Golden Knights their third goal.
“We started really well, lost ourselves for a bit,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “Momentum swung to their side, but we hung in there.”
Utah fell behind early after struggling to create scoring chances during the first period. The Mammoth tallied three shots on goal over the first 20 minutes. Only one came outside of a power play.
Vegas allowed 30 shots on goal over the final two regulation periods and overtime.
The Miami Heat did not survive the play-in tournament this season and did not make the playoffs. They did get out of it the past two seasons, only to be bounced in the first round. The Heat have looked like one of those teams stuck in the middle and trying to get out of a rut.
That stagnation has led to some speculation that there could be a change at the top, with Pat Riley stepping aside as the team president. In his annual postseason press conference, Riley shot that down. Emphatically.
Pat Riley: “I'm not going to retire. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.” pic.twitter.com/MJwvKZNT6h
"I'm not going to retire. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard."
Riley, 81, went on to admit that he will not be able to do this forever, but that right now he plans to keep going. Riley's quote is via Ira Winderman at the Sun-Sentinel:
"I love this franchise, period. I mean, I love what we've built here over 30 years. You know, one day it will happen. Don't think that I have thought about it. I've thought about it. I'm aging up, OK. I'm 81 years old now. That's aging up. I think Micky and Nick (Arison, the Miami Heat owners) will decide whether or not I age out."
Riley and the Heat are expected to be big game hunters this summer, trying to get back in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo as well as any other free agents who become available and can turn the Heat back into contenders. However, do not expect any trade for a star to be centered around Bam Adebayo.
"I want to build this around Bam. I think Micky wants the same thing… I'm going to give you a flat-out no, I wouldn't (trade Adebayo). Unless somebody gave me 8 picks and Wembanyama."
Adebayo averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds a game this season while playing All Defensive Team-level defense. More than that, for the Heat, he is the veteran embodiment of the culture they have built and try to instill in young players entering their system. Adebayo is a pillar of "Heat Culture," and that is incredibly highly valued in the Heat's organization.
Riley also discussed the federal gambling indictments, which hit the Heat hard this season with the arrest of Terry Rozier, who was not with the team all season.
"It's probably the most stupid thing that a player could do... But when you get in bed with gambling sites as a league and they advertise on your network, it seems like everything's okay. To me that's a contradiction of what we're trying to do from a purity standpoint."
The Heat want to put that indictment and this season behind them and look to the future. Whatever changes are coming to Miami next season — and there could be massive ones — Riley and Adebayo will be back. Count on it.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will be held out of the lineup when he starts on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Miami Marlins.
It’ll be the second time this season Ohtani pitches but does not hit. He’ll be throwing on five days’ rest.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the plan for Ohtani after a 5-4 win in the series opener.
The first time Ohtani pitched for the Dodgers but didn’t hit occurred April 15, when he struck out 10 in an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets. He was held out of the batting order after being struck in the back of his right shoulder by a pitch earlier that week.
The previous time Ohtani was not in the lineup as the designated hitter during a start on the mound was May 28, 2021, with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers will miss his bat. He has a 10-game hitting streak against the Marlins dating to September 2024.
Ohtani had his second consecutive three-hit game, finishing 3 for 5 with a ground-rule double, two singles, two runs and an RBI.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 26: (L-R) Daniel Schneemann #10, Rhys Hoskins #8, Brayan Rocchio #4 and Juan Brito #34 of the Cleveland Guardians look on during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on April 26, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Guardians’ fans saw the team lost a frustrating game but got the news the organization would call up Travis Bazzana today last night – the rare Lose-Win situation.
I was busy covering the Bazzana call-up so I neglected to write a game recap. Here goes: Parker Messick was very good again, so was Colin Holderman who looks like the pitching factory has ironed out his wrinkles. But, Hunter Gaddis had the rare implosion at the worst possible time and coughed up the lead. Unfortunately, there is no room for error because the Guardians’ offense is mired in a slump. Daniel Schneemann’s two-run home run was all they could muster, as they could not touch a bad Rays’ bullpen. Rays’ closer Bryan Baker tried his darndest to give up the lead in the ninth. Kyle Manzardo got a single with one out. Now, sitting at home, I wondered why manager Stephen Vogt did not pinch-run Juan Brito for Manzardo at this point. Manzardo has 7th percentile sprint speed. Juan Brito has 35th percentile sprint speed. Brito WAS in the dugout, not on his way to Columbus. Would that have been enough of a difference to allow Brito to score on the ensuing Chase DeLauter double? I think there’s a decent chance it would have. But, hey, it’s probably a reminder that having Bazzana’s speed in the lineup should help. Anyway, George Valera swung at two pitches nowhere near the strike zone and made the second out and Schneemann had offered enough heroics for the night and ended the game with his own punchout.
The Tampa pitching matchups do NOT get any easier today as the Guardians look to snap a three-game losing streak, so the Guardians’ hitters need to figure some stuff out quickly.
But, hey, Travis Bazzana is on his way! Presumably, he will fill out the 40th roster spot which is currently open and result in Juan Brito’s brief time here mercifully coming to an end for the time period. Will Brito be the most I have ever been wrong on a prospect? Very possibly. But, let’s hope he can get back to recognizing that being a disciplined hitter and pulling fly balls is his path to success.
AROUND MLB: The Twins and White Sox won, while the Tigers and Royals were idle. I will note that the Red Sox shutout the Blue Jays. Perhaps the thing that most concerns me about the Guardians at the moment is that they were not able to take that series against a struggling Toronto team… time to get things turned around, boys.
NEW YORK, NY - 1956: Pitching coach Jim Turner #31 (right) of the New York Yankees looks out from the dugout while standing on the steps of the dugout and holding a fungo bat prior to a game in 1956 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. Pitcher Tom Sturdivant (left) sits against the dugout wall. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The late 1950s were among the best of times in the rich history of the New York Yankees. While the likes of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford made the headlines, those years featured deep rosters for the Bombers, including exemplary depth and talent on the mound. Among that unsung crowd during that time, the Yankees enjoyed the early years of Tom Sturdivent’s career.
A right-handed pitcher who likely started his career at the peak of his abilities before turning in a decade of journeyman work, Sturdivent was an important part of several World Series winning squads. Although his time in New York was relatively brief, he made the most of it with some solid work on the bump, and a couple of rings to add to the trophy case.
Tom Sturdivant Born: April 28, 1930 (Gordon, KS) Died: February 28, 2009 (Oklahoma City, OK) Yankees Tenure: 1955-59
Born in Kansas and signing at the age of 18, Tom Sturdivant spent the first decade of his professional baseball career with the Yankees. Originally an infielder, he turned in middling results with the bat in the minor leagues until 1950, before missing the ‘51 season due to military service. He returned in 1952, this time converting to working full-time on the mound.
After re-routing his baseball career, Sturdivant climbed his way up to the big leagues, making his debut in April of 1955. He appeared in 33 games in his rookie season, primarily out of relief, with only one of those being a start, and he pitched quite well. In 68.1 innings of work, the righty managed a 3.16 ERA. He pitched twice in that season’s losing World Series effort, but struggled to make a mark, allowing a pair of runs across three innings of work.
In 1956, Sturdivant came in with a bigger role in store, and handled the added workload gracefully. Although he pitched in fewer games (32), he more than doubled his innings load, and managed to maintain a remarkably similar 118 ERA+ mark in more than 150 frames. He was efficient and kept himself out of trouble, posting a league-leading 2.12 K/BB. He appeared twice in that season’s Fall Classic and was much more successful, highlighted by a complete game in Game 4 of the series. The Yankees took home the World Series in seven games, thanks in part to Sturdivant’s heroics in the fourth game.
Riding the wave of a championship, Sturdivant would enter the 1957 season on a high note and pitch the best baseball of his career. At the age of 27, the hurler started 28 games, working over 200 innings for the only time in his big league career. In his full-time role, Sturdivant shined with a career-best 2.54 ERA. It turned out to be the finest work he would have with the Yankees, and in his Major League career.
After back-to-back successful 16-win seasons in the Bronx, the downswing of Sturdivant’s career unfortunately began in 1958. He began to experience arm troubles, and would never again reach the quality or volume that he did with the Yankees in the two years prior. In ‘58, the righty was only able to start 10 games for the Yankees, with much diminished returns on the mound. Although he did not pitch in the series, his team did win another World Series that season, adding another ring to his collection.
He began the 1959 season with the Yankees once again, but after continued struggles from the jump, Sturdivant’s time in pinstripes was nearing the end. He was traded to the Athletics in late May, as his days in New York, as well as his best days on the mound, were over.
Although it was a new chapter for Sturdivant, it was not entirely unsuccessful. He pitched 165.2 above-average innings in 1961 between Washington and Pittsburgh, and would top 100 innings of work a couple more times, including another solid season with the Pirates in ‘62.
As far as the terms you could describe Tom Sturdivant’s career, well-travelled is certainly one of them. Beyond the Yankees, Washington, and Pittsburgh, the pitcher also made stops with the Athletics, Tigers, Red Sox, and Mets in his 10 years of big league time. Pitching in over 1,100 innings in the Major Leagues, Sturdivant worked out to a roughly league-average run-preventor, which is a far more valuable thing than it sounds, and the Yankees were able to enjoy the very best of that career.
Born on this day 96 years ago, a pitcher whose peak saw a couple of great seasons and a complete game victory in the World Series, Tom Sturdivant was an unsung hero on the highly talented 1950s Yankees rosters.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
NHL Must Address Jamie Benn After String of Dangerous, Uncalled PlaysJamie Benn's dangerous, uncalled playoff antics continue. The NHL faces pressure to address a pattern of reckless plays impacting star players.
Payton Pritchard
Karl-Anthony Towns
Stephon Castle
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
